Health Committee on Nov. 15th, 2022

Evidence of meeting #42 for Health in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was shortages.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Over-the-Counter Paediatric Medication

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Stephen Lucas Deputy Minister, Department of Health

Stefania Trombetti Assistant Deputy Minister, Regulatory Operations and Enforcement Branch, Department of Health

Supriya Sharma Chief Medical Advisor and Senior Medical Advisor, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health

Linsey Hollett Director General, Health Product Compliance , Department of Health

Hugues Mousseau Director General, Association québécoise des distributeurs en pharmacie

Emily Gruenwoldt President and Chief Executive Officer, Children's Healthcare Canada

Saad Ahmed Physician, Critical Drugs Coalition

Gerry Harrington Senior Advisor, Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada

1 p.m.

Conservative

Stephen Ellis Conservative Cumberland—Colchester, NS

I'd like to move straight to a vote on the motion.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

We can't do that until the speakers list is exhausted.

Go ahead, Mr. Davies.

1 p.m.

NDP

Don Davies NDP Vancouver Kingsway, BC

Mr. Chair, I was going to suggest that we thank and excuse the witnesses while we debate the motion.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

To both the witnesses, thank you so much for being with us. There was a lot of information packed into an hour. We're very grateful for your time and respectful of it, which is why we thank you.

You're welcome to stay, but you're free to leave. Thank you so much.

Go ahead, Mr. van Koeverden.

1 p.m.

Liberal

Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON

I'm sorry, but that's all I was going to suggest.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Is there any further debate on the motion?

Go ahead, Dr. Powlowski.

1 p.m.

Liberal

Marcus Powlowski Liberal Thunder Bay—Rainy River, ON

First, we need to see the motion in writing. Although I think the government certainly supports transparency, on this issue we've already heard the possibility of contractual obligations. The government is, to some extent, a business, and if there are contractual obligations that affect our ability to meet the requirements under this motion, we want to know about them.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

Go ahead, Mr. van Koeverden.

1 p.m.

Liberal

Adam van Koeverden Liberal Milton, ON

I agree with my colleague.

I would note that members are saying that there is no transparent information while at the same time also quoting the source of the transparent information on the Drug Shortages Canada website. In part, a lot of that information comes directly from Health Canada.

I would like to see this motion in writing. I'm happy to talk about this at another time. We have another meeting this week. It's 1 p.m., and we all have other obligations today. We can talk about this on Thursday when it's in writing, on paper, or perhaps in our inboxes, so I move to adjourn.

1 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sean Casey

The motion to adjourn is not debatable.

All those in favour of adjourning the meeting?

(Motion agreed to)

The motion is carried.

The meeting is adjourned.